The Missouri Center for Nursing is among 12 organizations throughout the nation that will receive up to $25,000 each for new or ongoing work that addresses nursing’s role in building a Culture of Health and promoting health equity, the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), announced. The Innovations Fund winners were selected based on submissions of replicable strategies that help nurses build a Culture of Health and promote health equity and well-being, while highlighting the importance of collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

The competition was limited to the Campaign’s state-affiliate “Action Coalitions,” or organizations designated by Action Coalitions. Applicants were required to raise matching funds to be considered.

In addition to the award in Missouri, the Campaign announced that Action Coalitions or their designees in Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia also received awards. Massachusetts, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia also received this award last year.

“We are proud to be selected and look forward to building on our work to create replicable strategies that help nurses build a Culture of Health and promote health equity and well-being,” said Tina Lear, Executive Director, Missouri Center for Nursing. “The work we are doing to transform nursing improves health and health care for everyone. We are grateful to AARP Foundation, AARP, and RWJF for this support.”

Tina Lear said the Missouri Center for Nursing will focus on continuing to build the Innovative Care Institute, which was launched by the Center in 2018. The funding allocation will enable the Center to expand program trainings to include remote offerings through a comprehensive online learning management system, statewide reach, dissemination and evaluation.

“As trusted providers on the front lines of care, nurses have a unique understanding of the needs of their communities. These states are demonstrating how nurses are taking that important perspective and using it to implement innovative programs to address the social determinants of health,” said Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior adviser for nursing at RWJF and director of the Campaign for Action. “The Foundation is committed to providing states with the support they need to lead efforts that promote health equity and well-being.”

Susan C. Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior vice president and director of the AARP Public Policy Institute, and chief strategist at the Center to Champion Nursing in America, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and RWJF, which coordinates the Campaign for Action, added: “We are pleased to support the important work of our Action Coalitions and their designees with this funding opportunity. Since the days of Florence Nightingale, nurses have been making people and communities healthier. Our hope is that each of these organizations will use these funds to continue their work to build a Culture of Health in their state.”

The goal for this two-year award is to assist in the creation of replicable strategies that sustain Action Coalition work while highlighting the importance of collaboration with diverse stakeholders.